Education and Training

A Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Idaho (N.M.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D., but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional licensing exams so that they may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care physician.
 

Association of Accredited of Naturopathic Medical Colleges

The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) was established in February 2001, to propel and foster the naturopathic medical profession by actively supporting the academic efforts of accredited and recognized schools of naturopathic medicine.

Member Schools:

• BASTYR University (Kenmore, WA and San Diego, CA)

• National University of Natural Medicine (Portland, OR)

• Sonoran University of Health Sciences (Tempe, AZ)

• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, ON)

• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine - Boucher Campus (New Westminister, BC)

• National University of Health Sciences (Lombard, IL)
   

The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education

The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education’s (CNME) mission is quality assurance: serving the public by accrediting naturopathic medical education programs that voluntarily seek recognition that they meet or exceed CNME’s standards. Students and graduates of programs accredited or preaccredited (candidacy) by CNME are eligible to apply for the naturopathic licensing examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), and are generally eligible for state and provincial licensure in the U.S. and Canada.
 

North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners and NPLEX

The NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations) is the examination graduates of one of the approved naturopathic medical colleges must pass to be licensed in any of the 24 states/territories or 5 provinces that license/register naturopathic physicians. The North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) is responsible for approving applicants to take the NPLEX and for administering the examinations.